How to spot an itchy bottom problem:
When a kiddo seems extra squirmy or seems to have a special case of “ants in the pants” the cause might be a simple: an itchy behind or irritation. Kids aren’t always capable of communicating the common problem of having an itchy bottom or irritation with words, but keep an eye on their fidgeting and scratching. Their actions will tell you a lot!
Why, oh why, does my child have an itchy bottom or irritation?
The simple answer is that kids might not be getting sparkling clean where the sun don’t shine due to their toilet paper. One study found that leftover poo is the cause of 50-75% of all itchy butts.* Or of the toilet paper is too rough or too thin it might be causing irritation. Remember when they were babies and those little poo-machines got diaper rash from dirty diapers? Well, this is round #2 of “#2” problems. Kids are still new to this whole business of wiping off their “business” after going to the bathroom. Of course they’ve been taught well, but since when do kids listen? Maybe it’s time to sit them down for more instruction…if they can stop wriggling around long enough to pay attention.
Four ways to get kids to wipe away bottom problems.
1. Tell them to wipe until the paper is white. White paper=white undies=less itching “down south.” This may seem like a no-brainer, but kids need a lot of reinforcement on this front, even if they can’t hear it without giggling uncontrollably.
2. Teach girls to wipe from front to back. Girls can experience itch in the front as well. Reminding them of the front-to-back rule will help prevent yeast infections and UTI’s.**
3. Give them the good stuff! Now isn’t the time for scratchy, flimsy toilet paper they need the best toilet paper for sensitive skin. They can wait and experience that in college, probably. Ultra gentle toilet paper with a drop of soothing lotion like Charmin Ultra Gentle can create less of a need to wipe again and again, which in itself can really chap their poor, little hides.
4. Give them the good stuff, but damper! Wet, flushable wipes definitely get the job done and pair great with ultra gentle toilet paper. Baby wipes helped when they were babies, now they can graduate to a wet wipe like Charmin Freshmates to go one step further in getting those precious bottoms squeaky clean.
Of course, if this is more than just toilet paper irritation or itchy butt and your child has a rash with raised borders, changes in bathroom habits or chronic itchiness, don’t hesitate to seek help from a doctor. ** However, if your child is just in need of some graduate level potty training with toilet paper for sensitive skin, we’ve got ya covered! For more potty training tips, check out these articles.
* Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7044727
** Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not intended to be a substitute for media advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have questions about a medical condition, if your symptoms persist, are more serious or are not related to cleanliness, please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional.
***when wet vs the leading bargain brand